Chapter 10 Interlude: Looking Forward, Looking Back
He'd found the instructors lounge empty, which was good considering the frame of mind he was in.
Coffee in hand, he stood with his back to the door, thinking over his life. The people he'd met and the visions they'd given him, both good and bad. The countless battles with Grim, the White Fang, and common criminals. The people he cared for most in this world, and those he'd lost through the years.
The loves and hates of a man trapped by duty, bound by oaths that he would never break, and burdened by a terrible gift.
The visions in recent years had told him what was to come, and he wished for more time. Time to once again see old friends and reveal the things he'd never had words for in the past. But he knew he could never say those things, the oath he'd made to himself would keep those secrets to his grave and beyond. Darkness would not win, but he would not see the ending.
"The burden is heavy, but I cannot share it." he whispered.
Lost in thought, he didn't hear the door open, or the tapping of heels on the floor.
Glynda was in a foul mood after hearing what had happened to Pyrrha during her test.
" Well ' Big Man'! Are you done beating up on my students!"
The sharp crack of the cup shattering startled her, as did his response.
" Dammit Glynda! Don't start with me!" He turned to confront her, blood and coffee in equal amounts dripping from the hand that held the remains of the cup. " The lot of them wouldn't last ten seconds if I wanted to 'beat them up', and you know it!"
What he'd done to his hand didn't bother her as much as the look of helplessness in that eye.
Grabbing a towel from the counter, she began cleaning the bloody mess off his unresisting hand.
'Dust! He didn't even try to use his Aura!'
" Edda, what is going on!"
The gentle tone coupled with her ministrations calmed him enough to speak.
" I'm sorry about frightening you, it's just...there's so much..."
As he began to sag, Glynda pushed him onto a nearby couch before disposing of the bloody towel. Seating herself next to him, she grasped the damaged hand in hers and performed two small spells. The wounds closed and her gloves were once again clean.
He smiled sadly at the healed palm, flexing the fingers before closing them around her hand. Raising it to his lips, he kissed the fingertips.
" Glynda Goodwitch, you were always a better partner then I ever deserved."
Fighting to control her temper, she pushed his hand back down. In all the years she'd known him, he'd never acted like this. In the past she'd been infuriated at his reckless actions, even to the point of once freezing him in place with a spell. He was the one person she could count on to do the things that would keep her world as interesting as possible, all out of the love and respect he had for her.
But she'd never seen him show the agony in his soul that the visions caused. She wasn't sure what to do, and feeling helpless was foreign to her.
" What do you mean 'were'? What's going on with you? What did you see!?"
" I cannot tell you." he admitted sadly. " Ozpin and my own oath forbid revealing anything that might affect the future. If you want to know what he knows, you'll have to ask him." He looked up into her eyes. " And he does not know all that I know."
Frustrated, she balled her free hand into a fist. Damn Ozpin and his 'need to know' policies! " Is there anything you can tell me that won't violate your oath?"
He idly stroked the material of her glove as he considered the request. " Perhaps a few things, so long as you never tell anyone or give any indication that you know anything!"
Her eyes narrowed for a moment. " Agreed!"
Sighing, he closed his eyes and prayed that what he was about to reveal would not do irreparable damage. " Guard the Arc boy, he will be a major factor in future events."
That was not what she expected at all. The ' Bumbling Blonde' was somehow important?
" Also, watch over Ruby and Hart for your old partners peace of mind, please. Though they are not as important as the boy, the tests they face will try them sorely, I fear!"
Her brow furrowed in thought. " Hart?" The name was unknown to her.
He smiled gently and patted her hand. " A faunas girl of my acquaintance. You will meet her soon enough if Qrow has any say in the matter."
'Qrow? What's that old bird up to now?' She thought, recalling how many times the name had come up in her conversations with Ozpin.
The hug was unexpected, but not unwelcome.
" Of all the visions I have seen, yours is still my favorite!"
She hugged him as tight as she could, suddenly afraid that this might be the last.